It’s been more than a century since anyone has crossed the Niagara Gorge on a high wire, but a new chapter in the daredevil tradition that put Niagara Falls on the world’s tourism map, is about to be written.

Famed American aerialist Nik Wallenda will attempt a dramatic crossing over the Niagara River between Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario on a tightrope, suspended approximately 60 metres (200 feet) above the turbulent waters rushing over the brink of Niagara Falls. Wallenda will cross the Niagara Gorge on Friday, June 15, beginning at 9 p.m. This modern-day walk — which will be watched by millions world-wide — will take him approximately 550 metres (1,800 feet) across a narrow wire over the world-renowned Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

In announcing his walk, Wallenda stated, “This has been a dream of mine ever since I saw Niagara Falls for the first time when I was six years old. I fully expect this to be only the beginning of my life long relationship with Niagara Falls.”

Given Niagara’s storied history with stunting and daredevil attempts, the Niagara Parks Commission felt Wallenda’s wire walk was an appropriate way to pay tribute to the daring individuals and performances of long ago, while highlighting Niagara Parks’ ongoing role as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. Wallenda’s tightrope walk is expected to draw more than 120,000 people between both Parks on either side of the river to witness the event firsthand. American television network ABC will broadcast Wallenda’s historic high wire walk live, enabling millions of viewers to watch his crossing worldwide.

The Niagara Parks Commission is putting together a host of activities and performances for the huge crowd that comes out to watch Wallenda’s amazing tightrope performance. A live concert is being organized at the Illumination Stage at Queen Victoria Park before Wallenda inches across the gorge. The night will be capped off in dramatic fashion with a spectacular fireworks display over the Falls shortly after Wallenda completes the crossing.